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4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 #include <ev.h> 7 #include <ev.h>
8 8
9=head2 EXAMPLE PROGRAM
10
11 #include <ev.h>
12
13 ev_io stdin_watcher;
14 ev_timer timeout_watcher;
15
16 /* called when data readable on stdin */
17 static void
18 stdin_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_io *w, int revents)
19 {
20 /* puts ("stdin ready"); */
21 ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w); /* just a syntax example */
22 ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ALL); /* leave all loop calls */
23 }
24
25 static void
26 timeout_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
27 {
28 /* puts ("timeout"); */
29 ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ONE); /* leave one loop call */
30 }
31
32 int
33 main (void)
34 {
35 struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);
36
37 /* initialise an io watcher, then start it */
38 ev_io_init (&stdin_watcher, stdin_cb, /*STDIN_FILENO*/ 0, EV_READ);
39 ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);
40
41 /* simple non-repeating 5.5 second timeout */
42 ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);
43 ev_timer_start (loop, &timeout_watcher);
44
45 /* loop till timeout or data ready */
46 ev_loop (loop, 0);
47
48 return 0;
49 }
50
9=head1 DESCRIPTION 51=head1 DESCRIPTION
10 52
53The newest version of this document is also available as a html-formatted
54web page you might find easier to navigate when reading it for the first
55time: L<http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.html>.
56
11Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a 57Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a
12file descriptor being readable or a timeout occuring), and it will manage 58file descriptor being readable or a timeout occurring), and it will manage
13these event sources and provide your program with events. 59these event sources and provide your program with events.
14 60
15To do this, it must take more or less complete control over your process 61To do this, it must take more or less complete control over your process
16(or thread) by executing the I<event loop> handler, and will then 62(or thread) by executing the I<event loop> handler, and will then
17communicate events via a callback mechanism. 63communicate events via a callback mechanism.
19You register interest in certain events by registering so-called I<event 65You register interest in certain events by registering so-called I<event
20watchers>, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the 66watchers>, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the
21details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by I<starting> the 67details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by I<starting> the
22watcher. 68watcher.
23 69
24=head1 FEATURES 70=head2 FEATURES
25 71
26Libev supports select, poll, the linux-specific epoll and the bsd-specific 72Libev supports C<select>, C<poll>, the Linux-specific C<epoll>, the
27kqueue mechanisms for file descriptor events, relative timers, absolute 73BSD-specific C<kqueue> and the Solaris-specific event port mechanisms
28timers with customised rescheduling, signal events, process status change 74for file descriptor events (C<ev_io>), the Linux C<inotify> interface
29events (related to SIGCHLD), and event watchers dealing with the event 75(for C<ev_stat>), relative timers (C<ev_timer>), absolute timers
30loop mechanism itself (idle, prepare and check watchers). It also is quite 76with customised rescheduling (C<ev_periodic>), synchronous signals
77(C<ev_signal>), process status change events (C<ev_child>), and event
78watchers dealing with the event loop mechanism itself (C<ev_idle>,
79C<ev_embed>, C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> watchers) as well as
80file watchers (C<ev_stat>) and even limited support for fork events
81(C<ev_fork>).
82
83It also is quite fast (see this
31fast (see this L<benchmark|http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html> comparing 84L<benchmark|http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html> comparing it to libevent
32it to libevent for example). 85for example).
33 86
34=head1 CONVENTIONS 87=head2 CONVENTIONS
35 88
36Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration 89Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration will
37will be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info 90be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info about
38about various configuration options please have a look at the file 91various configuration options please have a look at B<EMBED> section in
39F<README.embed> in the libev distribution. If libev was configured without 92this manual. If libev was configured without support for multiple event
40support for multiple event loops, then all functions taking an initial 93loops, then all functions taking an initial argument of name C<loop>
41argument of name C<loop> (which is always of type C<struct ev_loop *>) 94(which is always of type C<struct ev_loop *>) will not have this argument.
42will not have this argument.
43 95
44=head1 TIME AND OTHER GLOBAL FUNCTIONS 96=head2 TIME REPRESENTATION
45 97
46Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the 98Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the
47(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near 99(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near
48the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is 100the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is
49called C<ev_tstamp>, which is what you should use too. It usually aliases 101called C<ev_tstamp>, which is what you should use too. It usually aliases
50to the double type in C. 102to the C<double> type in C, and when you need to do any calculations on
103it, you should treat it as some floatingpoint value. Unlike the name
104component C<stamp> might indicate, it is also used for time differences
105throughout libev.
106
107=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
108
109These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the
110library in any way.
51 111
52=over 4 112=over 4
53 113
54=item ev_tstamp ev_time () 114=item ev_tstamp ev_time ()
55 115
56Returns the current time as libev would use it. 116Returns the current time as libev would use it. Please note that the
117C<ev_now> function is usually faster and also often returns the timestamp
118you actually want to know.
119
120=item ev_sleep (ev_tstamp interval)
121
122Sleep for the given interval: The current thread will be blocked until
123either it is interrupted or the given time interval has passed. Basically
124this is a subsecond-resolution C<sleep ()>.
57 125
58=item int ev_version_major () 126=item int ev_version_major ()
59 127
60=item int ev_version_minor () 128=item int ev_version_minor ()
61 129
62You can find out the major and minor version numbers of the library 130You can find out the major and minor ABI version numbers of the library
63you linked against by calling the functions C<ev_version_major> and 131you linked against by calling the functions C<ev_version_major> and
64C<ev_version_minor>. If you want, you can compare against the global 132C<ev_version_minor>. If you want, you can compare against the global
65symbols C<EV_VERSION_MAJOR> and C<EV_VERSION_MINOR>, which specify the 133symbols C<EV_VERSION_MAJOR> and C<EV_VERSION_MINOR>, which specify the
66version of the library your program was compiled against. 134version of the library your program was compiled against.
67 135
136These version numbers refer to the ABI version of the library, not the
137release version.
138
68Usually, its a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch, 139Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch,
69as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually 140as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually
70compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually 141compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually
71not a problem. 142not a problem.
72 143
144Example: Make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong
145version.
146
147 assert (("libev version mismatch",
148 ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR
149 && ev_version_minor () >= EV_VERSION_MINOR));
150
151=item unsigned int ev_supported_backends ()
152
153Return the set of all backends (i.e. their corresponding C<EV_BACKEND_*>
154value) compiled into this binary of libev (independent of their
155availability on the system you are running on). See C<ev_default_loop> for
156a description of the set values.
157
158Example: make sure we have the epoll method, because yeah this is cool and
159a must have and can we have a torrent of it please!!!11
160
161 assert (("sorry, no epoll, no sex",
162 ev_supported_backends () & EVBACKEND_EPOLL));
163
164=item unsigned int ev_recommended_backends ()
165
166Return the set of all backends compiled into this binary of libev and also
167recommended for this platform. This set is often smaller than the one
168returned by C<ev_supported_backends>, as for example kqueue is broken on
169most BSDs and will not be autodetected unless you explicitly request it
170(assuming you know what you are doing). This is the set of backends that
171libev will probe for if you specify no backends explicitly.
172
173=item unsigned int ev_embeddable_backends ()
174
175Returns the set of backends that are embeddable in other event loops. This
176is the theoretical, all-platform, value. To find which backends
177might be supported on the current system, you would need to look at
178C<ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for
179recommended ones.
180
181See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.
182
73=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size)) 183=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))
74 184
75Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar to the 185Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the
76realloc C function, the semantics are identical). It is used to allocate 186semantics is identical - to the realloc C function). It is used to
77and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when memory 187allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when
78needs to be allocated, the library might abort or take some potentially 188memory needs to be allocated, the library might abort or take some
79destructive action. The default is your system realloc function. 189potentially destructive action. The default is your system realloc
190function.
80 191
81You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say, 192You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say,
82free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator, 193free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator,
83or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available. 194or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available.
195
196Example: Replace the libev allocator with one that waits a bit and then
197retries).
198
199 static void *
200 persistent_realloc (void *ptr, size_t size)
201 {
202 for (;;)
203 {
204 void *newptr = realloc (ptr, size);
205
206 if (newptr)
207 return newptr;
208
209 sleep (60);
210 }
211 }
212
213 ...
214 ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc);
84 215
85=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg)); 216=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg));
86 217
87Set the callback function to call on a retryable syscall error (such 218Set the callback function to call on a retryable syscall error (such
88as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string 219as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string
90callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the sitution, no 221callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the sitution, no
91matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the 222matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the
92requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff 223requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff
93(such as abort). 224(such as abort).
94 225
226Example: This is basically the same thing that libev does internally, too.
227
228 static void
229 fatal_error (const char *msg)
230 {
231 perror (msg);
232 abort ();
233 }
234
235 ...
236 ev_set_syserr_cb (fatal_error);
237
95=back 238=back
96 239
97=head1 FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP 240=head1 FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP
98 241
99An event loop is described by a C<struct ev_loop *>. The library knows two 242An event loop is described by a C<struct ev_loop *>. The library knows two
100types of such loops, the I<default> loop, which supports signals and child 243types of such loops, the I<default> loop, which supports signals and child
101events, and dynamically created loops which do not. 244events, and dynamically created loops which do not.
102 245
103If you use threads, a common model is to run the default event loop 246If you use threads, a common model is to run the default event loop
104in your main thread (or in a separate thrad) and for each thread you 247in your main thread (or in a separate thread) and for each thread you
105create, you also create another event loop. Libev itself does no locking 248create, you also create another event loop. Libev itself does no locking
106whatsoever, so if you mix calls to the same event loop in different 249whatsoever, so if you mix calls to the same event loop in different
107threads, make sure you lock (this is usually a bad idea, though, even if 250threads, make sure you lock (this is usually a bad idea, though, even if
108done correctly, because its hideous and inefficient). 251done correctly, because it's hideous and inefficient).
109 252
110=over 4 253=over 4
111 254
112=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags) 255=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags)
113 256
114This will initialise the default event loop if it hasn't been initialised 257This will initialise the default event loop if it hasn't been initialised
115yet and return it. If the default loop could not be initialised, returns 258yet and return it. If the default loop could not be initialised, returns
116false. If it already was initialised it simply returns it (and ignores the 259false. If it already was initialised it simply returns it (and ignores the
117flags). 260flags. If that is troubling you, check C<ev_backend ()> afterwards).
118 261
119If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this 262If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this
120function. 263function.
121 264
122The flags argument can be used to specify special behaviour or specific 265The flags argument can be used to specify special behaviour or specific
123backends to use, and is usually specified as 0 (or EVFLAG_AUTO). 266backends to use, and is usually specified as C<0> (or C<EVFLAG_AUTO>).
124 267
125It supports the following flags: 268The following flags are supported:
126 269
127=over 4 270=over 4
128 271
129=item EVFLAG_AUTO 272=item C<EVFLAG_AUTO>
130 273
131The default flags value. Use this if you have no clue (its the right 274The default flags value. Use this if you have no clue (it's the right
132thing, believe me). 275thing, believe me).
133 276
134=item EVFLAG_NOENV 277=item C<EVFLAG_NOENV>
135 278
136If this flag bit is ored into the flag value (or the program runs setuid 279If this flag bit is ored into the flag value (or the program runs setuid
137or setgid) then libev will I<not> look at the environment variable 280or setgid) then libev will I<not> look at the environment variable
138C<LIBEV_FLAGS>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will 281C<LIBEV_FLAGS>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will
139override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is 282override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is
140useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work 283useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work
141around bugs. 284around bugs.
142 285
286=item C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>
287
288Instead of calling C<ev_default_fork> or C<ev_loop_fork> manually after
289a fork, you can also make libev check for a fork in each iteration by
290enabling this flag.
291
292This works by calling C<getpid ()> on every iteration of the loop,
293and thus this might slow down your event loop if you do a lot of loop
294iterations and little real work, but is usually not noticeable (on my
295Linux system for example, C<getpid> is actually a simple 5-insn sequence
296without a syscall and thus I<very> fast, but my Linux system also has
297C<pthread_atfork> which is even faster).
298
299The big advantage of this flag is that you can forget about fork (and
300forget about forgetting to tell libev about forking) when you use this
301flag.
302
303This flag setting cannot be overriden or specified in the C<LIBEV_FLAGS>
304environment variable.
305
143=item EVMETHOD_SELECT portable select backend 306=item C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> (value 1, portable select backend)
144 307
145=item EVMETHOD_POLL poll backend (everywhere except windows) 308This is your standard select(2) backend. Not I<completely> standard, as
309libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds,
310but if that fails, expect a fairly low limit on the number of fds when
311using this backend. It doesn't scale too well (O(highest_fd)), but its
312usually the fastest backend for a low number of (low-numbered :) fds.
146 313
147=item EVMETHOD_EPOLL linux only 314To get good performance out of this backend you need a high amount of
315parallelity (most of the file descriptors should be busy). If you are
316writing a server, you should C<accept ()> in a loop to accept as many
317connections as possible during one iteration. You might also want to have
318a look at C<ev_set_io_collect_interval ()> to increase the amount of
319readyness notifications you get per iteration.
148 320
149=item EVMETHOD_KQUEUE some bsds only 321=item C<EVBACKEND_POLL> (value 2, poll backend, available everywhere except on windows)
150 322
151=item EVMETHOD_DEVPOLL solaris 8 only 323And this is your standard poll(2) backend. It's more complicated
324than select, but handles sparse fds better and has no artificial
325limit on the number of fds you can use (except it will slow down
326considerably with a lot of inactive fds). It scales similarly to select,
327i.e. O(total_fds). See the entry for C<EVBACKEND_SELECT>, above, for
328performance tips.
152 329
153=item EVMETHOD_PORT solaris 10 only 330=item C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL> (value 4, Linux)
331
332For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select,
333but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale
334like O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd),
335epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds). The epoll design has a number
336of shortcomings, such as silently dropping events in some hard-to-detect
337cases and rewiring a syscall per fd change, no fork support and bad
338support for dup.
339
340While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration
341will result in some caching, there is still a syscall per such incident
342(because the fd could point to a different file description now), so its
343best to avoid that. Also, C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors might not work
344very well if you register events for both fds.
345
346Please note that epoll sometimes generates spurious notifications, so you
347need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid blocking when no data
348(or space) is available.
349
350Best performance from this backend is achieved by not unregistering all
351watchers for a file descriptor until it has been closed, if possible, i.e.
352keep at least one watcher active per fd at all times.
353
354While nominally embeddeble in other event loops, this feature is broken in
355all kernel versions tested so far.
356
357=item C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE> (value 8, most BSD clones)
358
359Kqueue deserves special mention, as at the time of this writing, it
360was broken on all BSDs except NetBSD (usually it doesn't work reliably
361with anything but sockets and pipes, except on Darwin, where of course
362it's completely useless). For this reason it's not being "autodetected"
363unless you explicitly specify it explicitly in the flags (i.e. using
364C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>) or libev was compiled on a known-to-be-good (-enough)
365system like NetBSD.
366
367You still can embed kqueue into a normal poll or select backend and use it
368only for sockets (after having made sure that sockets work with kqueue on
369the target platform). See C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.
370
371It scales in the same way as the epoll backend, but the interface to the
372kernel is more efficient (which says nothing about its actual speed, of
373course). While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher does never
374cause an extra syscall as with C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL>, it still adds up to
375two event changes per incident, support for C<fork ()> is very bad and it
376drops fds silently in similarly hard-to-detect cases.
377
378This backend usually performs well under most conditions.
379
380While nominally embeddable in other event loops, this doesn't work
381everywhere, so you might need to test for this. And since it is broken
382almost everywhere, you should only use it when you have a lot of sockets
383(for which it usually works), by embedding it into another event loop
384(e.g. C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>) and using it only for
385sockets.
386
387=item C<EVBACKEND_DEVPOLL> (value 16, Solaris 8)
388
389This is not implemented yet (and might never be, unless you send me an
390implementation). According to reports, C</dev/poll> only supports sockets
391and is not embeddable, which would limit the usefulness of this backend
392immensely.
393
394=item C<EVBACKEND_PORT> (value 32, Solaris 10)
395
396This uses the Solaris 10 event port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris,
397it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)).
398
399Please note that solaris event ports can deliver a lot of spurious
400notifications, so you need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid
401blocking when no data (or space) is available.
402
403While this backend scales well, it requires one system call per active
404file descriptor per loop iteration. For small and medium numbers of file
405descriptors a "slow" C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL> backend
406might perform better.
407
408=item C<EVBACKEND_ALL>
409
410Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried
411with C<EVFLAG_AUTO>). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as
412C<EVBACKEND_ALL & ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>.
413
414It is definitely not recommended to use this flag.
415
416=back
154 417
155If one or more of these are ored into the flags value, then only these 418If one or more of these are ored into the flags value, then only these
156backends will be tried (in the reverse order as given here). If one are 419backends will be tried (in the reverse order as given here). If none are
157specified, any backend will do. 420specified, most compiled-in backend will be tried, usually in reverse
421order of their flag values :)
158 422
159=back 423The most typical usage is like this:
424
425 if (!ev_default_loop (0))
426 fatal ("could not initialise libev, bad $LIBEV_FLAGS in environment?");
427
428Restrict libev to the select and poll backends, and do not allow
429environment settings to be taken into account:
430
431 ev_default_loop (EVBACKEND_POLL | EVBACKEND_SELECT | EVFLAG_NOENV);
432
433Use whatever libev has to offer, but make sure that kqueue is used if
434available (warning, breaks stuff, best use only with your own private
435event loop and only if you know the OS supports your types of fds):
436
437 ev_default_loop (ev_recommended_backends () | EVBACKEND_KQUEUE);
160 438
161=item struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags) 439=item struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)
162 440
163Similar to C<ev_default_loop>, but always creates a new event loop that is 441Similar to C<ev_default_loop>, but always creates a new event loop that is
164always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot 442always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot
165handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by 443handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by
166undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled). 444undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).
167 445
446Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.
447
448 struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);
449 if (!epoller)
450 fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair");
451
168=item ev_default_destroy () 452=item ev_default_destroy ()
169 453
170Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state 454Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state
171etc.). This stops all registered event watchers (by not touching them in 455etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal
172any way whatsoever, although you cnanot rely on this :). 456sense, so e.g. C<ev_is_active> might still return true. It is your
457responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yoursef I<before>
458calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually
459the easiest thing, you can just ignore the watchers and/or C<free ()> them
460for example).
461
462Note that certain global state, such as signal state, will not be freed by
463this function, and related watchers (such as signal and child watchers)
464would need to be stopped manually.
465
466In general it is not advisable to call this function except in the
467rare occasion where you really need to free e.g. the signal handling
468pipe fds. If you need dynamically allocated loops it is better to use
469C<ev_loop_new> and C<ev_loop_destroy>).
173 470
174=item ev_loop_destroy (loop) 471=item ev_loop_destroy (loop)
175 472
176Like C<ev_default_destroy>, but destroys an event loop created by an 473Like C<ev_default_destroy>, but destroys an event loop created by an
177earlier call to C<ev_loop_new>. 474earlier call to C<ev_loop_new>.
181This function reinitialises the kernel state for backends that have 478This function reinitialises the kernel state for backends that have
182one. Despite the name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense 479one. Despite the name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense
183after forking, in either the parent or child process (or both, but that 480after forking, in either the parent or child process (or both, but that
184again makes little sense). 481again makes little sense).
185 482
186You I<must> call this function after forking if and only if you want to 483You I<must> call this function in the child process after forking if and
187use the event library in both processes. If you just fork+exec, you don't 484only if you want to use the event library in both processes. If you just
188have to call it. 485fork+exec, you don't have to call it.
189 486
190The function itself is quite fast and its usually not a problem to call 487The function itself is quite fast and it's usually not a problem to call
191it just in case after a fork. To make this easy, the function will fit in 488it just in case after a fork. To make this easy, the function will fit in
192quite nicely into a call to C<pthread_atfork>: 489quite nicely into a call to C<pthread_atfork>:
193 490
194 pthread_atfork (0, 0, ev_default_fork); 491 pthread_atfork (0, 0, ev_default_fork);
492
493At the moment, C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and C<EVBACKEND_POLL> are safe to use
494without calling this function, so if you force one of those backends you
495do not need to care.
195 496
196=item ev_loop_fork (loop) 497=item ev_loop_fork (loop)
197 498
198Like C<ev_default_fork>, but acts on an event loop created by 499Like C<ev_default_fork>, but acts on an event loop created by
199C<ev_loop_new>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop 500C<ev_loop_new>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop
200after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem. 501after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem.
201 502
503=item unsigned int ev_loop_count (loop)
504
505Returns the count of loop iterations for the loop, which is identical to
506the number of times libev did poll for new events. It starts at C<0> and
507happily wraps around with enough iterations.
508
509This value can sometimes be useful as a generation counter of sorts (it
510"ticks" the number of loop iterations), as it roughly corresponds with
511C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> calls.
512
202=item unsigned int ev_method (loop) 513=item unsigned int ev_backend (loop)
203 514
204Returns one of the C<EVMETHOD_*> flags indicating the event backend in 515Returns one of the C<EVBACKEND_*> flags indicating the event backend in
205use. 516use.
206 517
207=item ev_tstamp = ev_now (loop) 518=item ev_tstamp ev_now (loop)
208 519
209Returns the current "event loop time", which is the time the event loop 520Returns the current "event loop time", which is the time the event loop
210got events and started processing them. This timestamp does not change 521received events and started processing them. This timestamp does not
211as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base time 522change as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base
212used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the event 523time used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the
213occuring (or more correctly, the mainloop finding out about it). 524event occurring (or more correctly, libev finding out about it).
214 525
215=item ev_loop (loop, int flags) 526=item ev_loop (loop, int flags)
216 527
217Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called 528Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called
218after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling 529after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling
219events. 530events.
220 531
221If the flags argument is specified as 0, it will not return until either 532If the flags argument is specified as C<0>, it will not return until
222no event watchers are active anymore or C<ev_unloop> was called. 533either no event watchers are active anymore or C<ev_unloop> was called.
534
535Please note that an explicit C<ev_unloop> is usually better than
536relying on all watchers to be stopped when deciding when a program has
537finished (especially in interactive programs), but having a program that
538automatically loops as long as it has to and no longer by virtue of
539relying on its watchers stopping correctly is a thing of beauty.
223 540
224A flags value of C<EVLOOP_NONBLOCK> will look for new events, will handle 541A flags value of C<EVLOOP_NONBLOCK> will look for new events, will handle
225those events and any outstanding ones, but will not block your process in 542those events and any outstanding ones, but will not block your process in
226case there are no events. 543case there are no events and will return after one iteration of the loop.
227 544
228A flags value of C<EVLOOP_ONESHOT> will look for new events (waiting if 545A flags value of C<EVLOOP_ONESHOT> will look for new events (waiting if
229neccessary) and will handle those and any outstanding ones. It will block 546neccessary) and will handle those and any outstanding ones. It will block
230your process until at least one new event arrives. 547your process until at least one new event arrives, and will return after
548one iteration of the loop. This is useful if you are waiting for some
549external event in conjunction with something not expressible using other
550libev watchers. However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is
551usually a better approach for this kind of thing.
231 552
232This flags value could be used to implement alternative looping 553Here are the gory details of what C<ev_loop> does:
233constructs, but the C<prepare> and C<check> watchers provide a better and 554
234more generic mechanism. 555 - Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers.
556 * If there are no active watchers (reference count is zero), return.
557 - Queue all prepare watchers and then call all outstanding watchers.
558 - If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state.
559 - Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.
560 - Update the "event loop time".
561 - Calculate for how long to block.
562 - Block the process, waiting for any events.
563 - Queue all outstanding I/O (fd) events.
564 - Update the "event loop time" and do time jump handling.
565 - Queue all outstanding timers.
566 - Queue all outstanding periodics.
567 - If no events are pending now, queue all idle watchers.
568 - Queue all check watchers.
569 - Call all queued watchers in reverse order (i.e. check watchers first).
570 Signals and child watchers are implemented as I/O watchers, and will
571 be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.
572 - If ev_unloop has been called or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK
573 were used, return, otherwise continue with step *.
574
575Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outsanding
576anymore.
577
578 ... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long
579 ... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)
580 ev_loop (my_loop, 0);
581 ... jobs done. yeah!
235 582
236=item ev_unloop (loop, how) 583=item ev_unloop (loop, how)
237 584
238Can be used to make a call to C<ev_loop> return early. The C<how> argument 585Can be used to make a call to C<ev_loop> return early (but only after it
586has processed all outstanding events). The C<how> argument must be either
239must be either C<EVUNLOOP_ONCE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_loop> 587C<EVUNLOOP_ONE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_loop> call return, or
240call return, or C<EVUNLOOP_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_loop> 588C<EVUNLOOP_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_loop> calls return.
241calls return.
242 589
243=item ev_ref (loop) 590=item ev_ref (loop)
244 591
245=item ev_unref (loop) 592=item ev_unref (loop)
246 593
247Ref/unref can be used to add or remove a refcount on the event loop: Every 594Ref/unref can be used to add or remove a reference count on the event
248watcher keeps one reference. If you have a long-runing watcher you never 595loop: Every watcher keeps one reference, and as long as the reference
249unregister that should not keep ev_loop from running, ev_unref() after 596count is nonzero, C<ev_loop> will not return on its own. If you have
250starting, and ev_ref() before stopping it. Libev itself uses this for 597a watcher you never unregister that should not keep C<ev_loop> from
251example for its internal signal pipe: It is not visible to you as a user 598returning, ev_unref() after starting, and ev_ref() before stopping it. For
252and should not keep C<ev_loop> from exiting if the work is done. It is 599example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It is not
253also an excellent way to do this for generic recurring timers or from 600visible to the libev user and should not keep C<ev_loop> from exiting if
254within third-party libraries. Just remember to unref after start and ref 601no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent
255before stop. 602way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party
603libraries. Just remember to I<unref after start> and I<ref before stop>.
604
605Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping C<ev_loop>
606running when nothing else is active.
607
608 struct ev_signal exitsig;
609 ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);
610 ev_signal_start (loop, &exitsig);
611 evf_unref (loop);
612
613Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.
614
615 ev_ref (loop);
616 ev_signal_stop (loop, &exitsig);
617
618=item ev_set_io_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)
619
620=item ev_set_timeout_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)
621
622These advanced functions influence the time that libev will spend waiting
623for events. Both are by default C<0>, meaning that libev will try to
624invoke timer/periodic callbacks and I/O callbacks with minimum latency.
625
626Setting these to a higher value (the C<interval> I<must> be >= C<0>)
627allows libev to delay invocation of I/O and timer/periodic callbacks to
628increase efficiency of loop iterations.
629
630The background is that sometimes your program runs just fast enough to
631handle one (or very few) event(s) per loop iteration. While this makes
632the program responsive, it also wastes a lot of CPU time to poll for new
633events, especially with backends like C<select ()> which have a high
634overhead for the actual polling but can deliver many events at once.
635
636By setting a higher I<io collect interval> you allow libev to spend more
637time collecting I/O events, so you can handle more events per iteration,
638at the cost of increasing latency. Timeouts (both C<ev_periodic> and
639C<ev_timer>) will be not affected. Setting this to a non-null value will
640introduce an additional C<ev_sleep ()> call into most loop iterations.
641
642Likewise, by setting a higher I<timeout collect interval> you allow libev
643to spend more time collecting timeouts, at the expense of increased
644latency (the watcher callback will be called later). C<ev_io> watchers
645will not be affected. Setting this to a non-null value will not introduce
646any overhead in libev.
647
648Many (busy) programs can usually benefit by setting the io collect
649interval to a value near C<0.1> or so, which is often enough for
650interactive servers (of course not for games), likewise for timeouts. It
651usually doesn't make much sense to set it to a lower value than C<0.01>,
652as this approsaches the timing granularity of most systems.
256 653
257=back 654=back
655
258 656
259=head1 ANATOMY OF A WATCHER 657=head1 ANATOMY OF A WATCHER
260 658
261A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your 659A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your
262interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to 660interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to
263become readable, you would create an ev_io watcher for that: 661become readable, you would create an C<ev_io> watcher for that:
264 662
265 static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents) 663 static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
266 { 664 {
267 ev_io_stop (w); 665 ev_io_stop (w);
268 ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL); 666 ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);
295*) >>), and you can stop watching for events at any time by calling the 693*) >>), and you can stop watching for events at any time by calling the
296corresponding stop function (C<< ev_<type>_stop (loop, watcher *) >>. 694corresponding stop function (C<< ev_<type>_stop (loop, watcher *) >>.
297 695
298As long as your watcher is active (has been started but not stopped) you 696As long as your watcher is active (has been started but not stopped) you
299must not touch the values stored in it. Most specifically you must never 697must not touch the values stored in it. Most specifically you must never
300reinitialise it or call its set method. 698reinitialise it or call its C<set> macro.
301
302You cna check whether an event is active by calling the C<ev_is_active
303(watcher *)> macro. To see whether an event is outstanding (but the
304callback for it has not been called yet) you cna use the C<ev_is_pending
305(watcher *)> macro.
306 699
307Each and every callback receives the event loop pointer as first, the 700Each and every callback receives the event loop pointer as first, the
308registered watcher structure as second, and a bitset of received events as 701registered watcher structure as second, and a bitset of received events as
309third argument. 702third argument.
310 703
311The rceeived events usually include a single bit per event type received 704The received events usually include a single bit per event type received
312(you can receive multiple events at the same time). The possible bit masks 705(you can receive multiple events at the same time). The possible bit masks
313are: 706are:
314 707
315=over 4 708=over 4
316 709
317=item EV_READ 710=item C<EV_READ>
318 711
319=item EV_WRITE 712=item C<EV_WRITE>
320 713
321The file descriptor in the ev_io watcher has become readable and/or 714The file descriptor in the C<ev_io> watcher has become readable and/or
322writable. 715writable.
323 716
324=item EV_TIMEOUT 717=item C<EV_TIMEOUT>
325 718
326The ev_timer watcher has timed out. 719The C<ev_timer> watcher has timed out.
327 720
328=item EV_PERIODIC 721=item C<EV_PERIODIC>
329 722
330The ev_periodic watcher has timed out. 723The C<ev_periodic> watcher has timed out.
331 724
332=item EV_SIGNAL 725=item C<EV_SIGNAL>
333 726
334The signal specified in the ev_signal watcher has been received by a thread. 727The signal specified in the C<ev_signal> watcher has been received by a thread.
335 728
336=item EV_CHILD 729=item C<EV_CHILD>
337 730
338The pid specified in the ev_child watcher has received a status change. 731The pid specified in the C<ev_child> watcher has received a status change.
339 732
733=item C<EV_STAT>
734
735The path specified in the C<ev_stat> watcher changed its attributes somehow.
736
340=item EV_IDLE 737=item C<EV_IDLE>
341 738
342The ev_idle watcher has determined that you have nothing better to do. 739The C<ev_idle> watcher has determined that you have nothing better to do.
343 740
344=item EV_PREPARE 741=item C<EV_PREPARE>
345 742
346=item EV_CHECK 743=item C<EV_CHECK>
347 744
348All ev_prepare watchers are invoked just I<before> C<ev_loop> starts 745All C<ev_prepare> watchers are invoked just I<before> C<ev_loop> starts
349to gather new events, and all ev_check watchers are invoked just after 746to gather new events, and all C<ev_check> watchers are invoked just after
350C<ev_loop> has gathered them, but before it invokes any callbacks for any 747C<ev_loop> has gathered them, but before it invokes any callbacks for any
351received events. Callbacks of both watcher types can start and stop as 748received events. Callbacks of both watcher types can start and stop as
352many watchers as they want, and all of them will be taken into account 749many watchers as they want, and all of them will be taken into account
353(for example, a ev_prepare watcher might start an idle watcher to keep 750(for example, a C<ev_prepare> watcher might start an idle watcher to keep
354C<ev_loop> from blocking). 751C<ev_loop> from blocking).
355 752
753=item C<EV_EMBED>
754
755The embedded event loop specified in the C<ev_embed> watcher needs attention.
756
757=item C<EV_FORK>
758
759The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see
760C<ev_fork>).
761
356=item EV_ERROR 762=item C<EV_ERROR>
357 763
358An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might 764An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might
359happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev 765happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev
360ran out of memory, a file descriptor was found to be closed or any other 766ran out of memory, a file descriptor was found to be closed or any other
361problem. You best act on it by reporting the problem and somehow coping 767problem. You best act on it by reporting the problem and somehow coping
367with the error from read() or write(). This will not work in multithreaded 773with the error from read() or write(). This will not work in multithreaded
368programs, though, so beware. 774programs, though, so beware.
369 775
370=back 776=back
371 777
778=head2 GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS
779
780In the following description, C<TYPE> stands for the watcher type,
781e.g. C<timer> for C<ev_timer> watchers and C<io> for C<ev_io> watchers.
782
783=over 4
784
785=item C<ev_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)
786
787This macro initialises the generic portion of a watcher. The contents
788of the watcher object can be arbitrary (so C<malloc> will do). Only
789the generic parts of the watcher are initialised, you I<need> to call
790the type-specific C<ev_TYPE_set> macro afterwards to initialise the
791type-specific parts. For each type there is also a C<ev_TYPE_init> macro
792which rolls both calls into one.
793
794You can reinitialise a watcher at any time as long as it has been stopped
795(or never started) and there are no pending events outstanding.
796
797The callback is always of type C<void (*)(ev_loop *loop, ev_TYPE *watcher,
798int revents)>.
799
800=item C<ev_TYPE_set> (ev_TYPE *, [args])
801
802This macro initialises the type-specific parts of a watcher. You need to
803call C<ev_init> at least once before you call this macro, but you can
804call C<ev_TYPE_set> any number of times. You must not, however, call this
805macro on a watcher that is active (it can be pending, however, which is a
806difference to the C<ev_init> macro).
807
808Although some watcher types do not have type-specific arguments
809(e.g. C<ev_prepare>) you still need to call its C<set> macro.
810
811=item C<ev_TYPE_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback, [args])
812
813This convinience macro rolls both C<ev_init> and C<ev_TYPE_set> macro
814calls into a single call. This is the most convinient method to initialise
815a watcher. The same limitations apply, of course.
816
817=item C<ev_TYPE_start> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)
818
819Starts (activates) the given watcher. Only active watchers will receive
820events. If the watcher is already active nothing will happen.
821
822=item C<ev_TYPE_stop> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)
823
824Stops the given watcher again (if active) and clears the pending
825status. It is possible that stopped watchers are pending (for example,
826non-repeating timers are being stopped when they become pending), but
827C<ev_TYPE_stop> ensures that the watcher is neither active nor pending. If
828you want to free or reuse the memory used by the watcher it is therefore a
829good idea to always call its C<ev_TYPE_stop> function.
830
831=item bool ev_is_active (ev_TYPE *watcher)
832
833Returns a true value iff the watcher is active (i.e. it has been started
834and not yet been stopped). As long as a watcher is active you must not modify
835it.
836
837=item bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)
838
839Returns a true value iff the watcher is pending, (i.e. it has outstanding
840events but its callback has not yet been invoked). As long as a watcher
841is pending (but not active) you must not call an init function on it (but
842C<ev_TYPE_set> is safe), you must not change its priority, and you must
843make sure the watcher is available to libev (e.g. you cannot C<free ()>
844it).
845
846=item callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)
847
848Returns the callback currently set on the watcher.
849
850=item ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)
851
852Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time
853(modulo threads).
854
855=item ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, priority)
856
857=item int ev_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher)
858
859Set and query the priority of the watcher. The priority is a small
860integer between C<EV_MAXPRI> (default: C<2>) and C<EV_MINPRI>
861(default: C<-2>). Pending watchers with higher priority will be invoked
862before watchers with lower priority, but priority will not keep watchers
863from being executed (except for C<ev_idle> watchers).
864
865This means that priorities are I<only> used for ordering callback
866invocation after new events have been received. This is useful, for
867example, to reduce latency after idling, or more often, to bind two
868watchers on the same event and make sure one is called first.
869
870If you need to suppress invocation when higher priority events are pending
871you need to look at C<ev_idle> watchers, which provide this functionality.
872
873You I<must not> change the priority of a watcher as long as it is active or
874pending.
875
876The default priority used by watchers when no priority has been set is
877always C<0>, which is supposed to not be too high and not be too low :).
878
879Setting a priority outside the range of C<EV_MINPRI> to C<EV_MAXPRI> is
880fine, as long as you do not mind that the priority value you query might
881or might not have been adjusted to be within valid range.
882
883=item ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)
884
885Invoke the C<watcher> with the given C<loop> and C<revents>. Neither
886C<loop> nor C<revents> need to be valid as long as the watcher callback
887can deal with that fact.
888
889=item int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)
890
891If the watcher is pending, this function returns clears its pending status
892and returns its C<revents> bitset (as if its callback was invoked). If the
893watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns C<0>.
894
895=back
896
897
372=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER 898=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER
373 899
374Each watcher has, by default, a member C<void *data> that you can change 900Each watcher has, by default, a member C<void *data> that you can change
375and read at any time, libev will completely ignore it. This cna be used 901and read at any time, libev will completely ignore it. This can be used
376to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and 902to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and
377don't want to allocate memory and store a pointer to it in that data 903don't want to allocate memory and store a pointer to it in that data
378member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own 904member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own
379data: 905data:
380 906
393 { 919 {
394 struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_; 920 struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;
395 ... 921 ...
396 } 922 }
397 923
398More interesting and less C-conformant ways of catsing your callback type 924More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback type
399have been omitted.... 925instead have been omitted.
926
927Another common scenario is having some data structure with multiple
928watchers:
929
930 struct my_biggy
931 {
932 int some_data;
933 ev_timer t1;
934 ev_timer t2;
935 }
936
937In this case getting the pointer to C<my_biggy> is a bit more complicated,
938you need to use C<offsetof>:
939
940 #include <stddef.h>
941
942 static void
943 t1_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
944 {
945 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
946 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
947 }
948
949 static void
950 t2_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
951 {
952 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
953 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));
954 }
400 955
401 956
402=head1 WATCHER TYPES 957=head1 WATCHER TYPES
403 958
404This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat 959This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat
405information given in the last section. 960information given in the last section. Any initialisation/set macros,
961functions and members specific to the watcher type are explained.
406 962
963Members are additionally marked with either I<[read-only]>, meaning that,
964while the watcher is active, you can look at the member and expect some
965sensible content, but you must not modify it (you can modify it while the
966watcher is stopped to your hearts content), or I<[read-write]>, which
967means you can expect it to have some sensible content while the watcher
968is active, but you can also modify it. Modifying it may not do something
969sensible or take immediate effect (or do anything at all), but libev will
970not crash or malfunction in any way.
971
972
407=head2 struct ev_io - is my file descriptor readable or writable 973=head2 C<ev_io> - is this file descriptor readable or writable?
408 974
409I/O watchers check whether a file descriptor is readable or writable 975I/O watchers check whether a file descriptor is readable or writable
410in each iteration of the event loop (This behaviour is called 976in each iteration of the event loop, or, more precisely, when reading
411level-triggering because you keep receiving events as long as the 977would not block the process and writing would at least be able to write
412condition persists. Remember you cna stop the watcher if you don't want to 978some data. This behaviour is called level-triggering because you keep
413act on the event and neither want to receive future events). 979receiving events as long as the condition persists. Remember you can stop
980the watcher if you don't want to act on the event and neither want to
981receive future events.
414 982
415In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers oer 983In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per
416fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file 984fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file
417descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not 985descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not
418required if you know what you are doing). 986required if you know what you are doing).
419 987
420You have to be careful with dup'ed file descriptors, though. Some backends 988You have to be careful with dup'ed file descriptors, though. Some backends
421(the linux epoll backend is a notable example) cannot handle dup'ed file 989(the linux epoll backend is a notable example) cannot handle dup'ed file
422descriptors correctly if you register interest in two or more fds pointing 990descriptors correctly if you register interest in two or more fds pointing
423to the same file/socket etc. description. 991to the same underlying file/socket/etc. description (that is, they share
992the same underlying "file open").
424 993
425If you must do this, then force the use of a known-to-be-good backend 994If you must do this, then force the use of a known-to-be-good backend
426(at the time of this writing, this includes only EVMETHOD_SELECT and 995(at the time of this writing, this includes only C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and
427EVMETHOD_POLL). 996C<EVBACKEND_POLL>).
997
998Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to
999receive "spurious" readyness notifications, that is your callback might
1000be called with C<EV_READ> but a subsequent C<read>(2) will actually block
1001because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a
1002lot of those (for example solaris ports), it is very easy to get into
1003this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus
1004it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra C<read>(2) returning
1005C<EAGAIN> is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.
1006
1007If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should not
1008play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to seperately re-test
1009whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface
1010such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on
1011its own, so its quite safe to use).
1012
1013=head3 The special problem of disappearing file descriptors
1014
1015Some backends (e.g. kqueue, epoll) need to be told about closing a file
1016descriptor (either by calling C<close> explicitly or by any other means,
1017such as C<dup>). The reason is that you register interest in some file
1018descriptor, but when it goes away, the operating system will silently drop
1019this interest. If another file descriptor with the same number then is
1020registered with libev, there is no efficient way to see that this is, in
1021fact, a different file descriptor.
1022
1023To avoid having to explicitly tell libev about such cases, libev follows
1024the following policy: Each time C<ev_io_set> is being called, libev
1025will assume that this is potentially a new file descriptor, otherwise
1026it is assumed that the file descriptor stays the same. That means that
1027you I<have> to call C<ev_io_set> (or C<ev_io_init>) when you change the
1028descriptor even if the file descriptor number itself did not change.
1029
1030This is how one would do it normally anyway, the important point is that
1031the libev application should not optimise around libev but should leave
1032optimisations to libev.
1033
1034=head3 The special problem of dup'ed file descriptors
1035
1036Some backends (e.g. epoll), cannot register events for file descriptors,
1037but only events for the underlying file descriptions. That means when you
1038have C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors and register events for them, only one
1039file descriptor might actually receive events.
1040
1041There is no workaround possible except not registering events
1042for potentially C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors, or to resort to
1043C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
1044
1045=head3 The special problem of fork
1046
1047Some backends (epoll, kqueue) do not support C<fork ()> at all or exhibit
1048useless behaviour. Libev fully supports fork, but needs to be told about
1049it in the child.
1050
1051To support fork in your programs, you either have to call
1052C<ev_default_fork ()> or C<ev_loop_fork ()> after a fork in the child,
1053enable C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>, or resort to C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or
1054C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
1055
1056
1057=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions
428 1058
429=over 4 1059=over 4
430 1060
431=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events) 1061=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)
432 1062
433=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events) 1063=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)
434 1064
435Configures an ev_io watcher. The fd is the file descriptor to rceeive 1065Configures an C<ev_io> watcher. The C<fd> is the file descriptor to
436events for and events is either C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or C<EV_READ | 1066rceeive events for and events is either C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or
437EV_WRITE> to receive the given events. 1067C<EV_READ | EV_WRITE> to receive the given events.
1068
1069=item int fd [read-only]
1070
1071The file descriptor being watched.
1072
1073=item int events [read-only]
1074
1075The events being watched.
438 1076
439=back 1077=back
440 1078
1079Example: Call C<stdin_readable_cb> when STDIN_FILENO has become, well
1080readable, but only once. Since it is likely line-buffered, you could
1081attempt to read a whole line in the callback.
1082
1083 static void
1084 stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
1085 {
1086 ev_io_stop (loop, w);
1087 .. read from stdin here (or from w->fd) and haqndle any I/O errors
1088 }
1089
1090 ...
1091 struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);
1092 struct ev_io stdin_readable;
1093 ev_io_init (&stdin_readable, stdin_readable_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
1094 ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_readable);
1095 ev_loop (loop, 0);
1096
1097
441=head2 struct ev_timer - relative and optionally recurring timeouts 1098=head2 C<ev_timer> - relative and optionally repeating timeouts
442 1099
443Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a 1100Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a
444given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that. 1101given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.
445 1102
446The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that 1103The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that
447times out after an hour and youreset your system clock to last years 1104times out after an hour and you reset your system clock to last years
448time, it will still time out after (roughly) and hour. "Roughly" because 1105time, it will still time out after (roughly) and hour. "Roughly" because
449detecting time jumps is hard, and soem inaccuracies are unavoidable (the 1106detecting time jumps is hard, and some inaccuracies are unavoidable (the
450monotonic clock option helps a lot here). 1107monotonic clock option helps a lot here).
1108
1109The relative timeouts are calculated relative to the C<ev_now ()>
1110time. This is usually the right thing as this timestamp refers to the time
1111of the event triggering whatever timeout you are modifying/starting. If
1112you suspect event processing to be delayed and you I<need> to base the timeout
1113on the current time, use something like this to adjust for this:
1114
1115 ev_timer_set (&timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.);
1116
1117The callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when its timeout has passed,
1118but if multiple timers become ready during the same loop iteration then
1119order of execution is undefined.
1120
1121=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
451 1122
452=over 4 1123=over 4
453 1124
454=item ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat) 1125=item ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)
455 1126
461later, again, and again, until stopped manually. 1132later, again, and again, until stopped manually.
462 1133
463The timer itself will do a best-effort at avoiding drift, that is, if you 1134The timer itself will do a best-effort at avoiding drift, that is, if you
464configure a timer to trigger every 10 seconds, then it will trigger at 1135configure a timer to trigger every 10 seconds, then it will trigger at
465exactly 10 second intervals. If, however, your program cannot keep up with 1136exactly 10 second intervals. If, however, your program cannot keep up with
466the timer (ecause it takes longer than those 10 seconds to do stuff) the 1137the timer (because it takes longer than those 10 seconds to do stuff) the
467timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration. 1138timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration.
468 1139
469=item ev_timer_again (loop) 1140=item ev_timer_again (loop)
470 1141
471This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is 1142This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is
472repeating. The exact semantics are: 1143repeating. The exact semantics are:
473 1144
1145If the timer is pending, its pending status is cleared.
1146
474If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it. 1147If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it (as if it timed out).
475 1148
476If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the repeat 1149If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the
477value), or reset the running timer to the repeat value. 1150C<repeat> value), or reset the running timer to the C<repeat> value.
478 1151
479This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical 1152This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical
480example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called idle 1153example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called idle
481timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, say, 60 1154timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, say, 60
482seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do this is to 1155seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do this is to
483configure an ev_timer with after=repeat=60 and calling ev_timer_again each 1156configure an C<ev_timer> with a C<repeat> value of C<60> and then call
484time you successfully read or write some data. If you go into an idle 1157C<ev_timer_again> each time you successfully read or write some data. If
485state where you do not expect data to travel on the socket, you can stop 1158you go into an idle state where you do not expect data to travel on the
486the timer, and again will automatically restart it if need be. 1159socket, you can C<ev_timer_stop> the timer, and C<ev_timer_again> will
1160automatically restart it if need be.
1161
1162That means you can ignore the C<after> value and C<ev_timer_start>
1163altogether and only ever use the C<repeat> value and C<ev_timer_again>:
1164
1165 ev_timer_init (timer, callback, 0., 5.);
1166 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1167 ...
1168 timer->again = 17.;
1169 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1170 ...
1171 timer->again = 10.;
1172 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1173
1174This is more slightly efficient then stopping/starting the timer each time
1175you want to modify its timeout value.
1176
1177=item ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]
1178
1179The current C<repeat> value. Will be used each time the watcher times out
1180or C<ev_timer_again> is called and determines the next timeout (if any),
1181which is also when any modifications are taken into account.
487 1182
488=back 1183=back
489 1184
1185Example: Create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.
1186
1187 static void
1188 one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
1189 {
1190 .. one minute over, w is actually stopped right here
1191 }
1192
1193 struct ev_timer mytimer;
1194 ev_timer_init (&mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.);
1195 ev_timer_start (loop, &mytimer);
1196
1197Example: Create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of
1198inactivity.
1199
1200 static void
1201 timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
1202 {
1203 .. ten seconds without any activity
1204 }
1205
1206 struct ev_timer mytimer;
1207 ev_timer_init (&mytimer, timeout_cb, 0., 10.); /* note, only repeat used */
1208 ev_timer_again (&mytimer); /* start timer */
1209 ev_loop (loop, 0);
1210
1211 // and in some piece of code that gets executed on any "activity":
1212 // reset the timeout to start ticking again at 10 seconds
1213 ev_timer_again (&mytimer);
1214
1215
490=head2 ev_periodic - to cron or not to cron it 1216=head2 C<ev_periodic> - to cron or not to cron?
491 1217
492Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile 1218Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile
493(and unfortunately a bit complex). 1219(and unfortunately a bit complex).
494 1220
495Unlike ev_timer's, they are not based on real time (or relative time) 1221Unlike C<ev_timer>'s, they are not based on real time (or relative time)
496but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher 1222but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher
497to trigger "at" some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a 1223to trigger "at" some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a
498periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. c<ev_now () 1224periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. C<ev_now ()
499+ 10.>) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will 1225+ 10.>) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will
500take a year to trigger the event (unlike an ev_timer, which would trigger 1226take a year to trigger the event (unlike an C<ev_timer>, which would trigger
501roughly 10 seconds later and of course not if you reset your system time 1227roughly 10 seconds later).
502again).
503 1228
504They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as 1229They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as
505triggering an event on eahc midnight, local time. 1230triggering an event on each midnight, local time or other, complicated,
1231rules.
1232
1233As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the
1234time (C<at>) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready
1235during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.
1236
1237=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
506 1238
507=over 4 1239=over 4
508 1240
509=item ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb) 1241=item ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)
510 1242
511=item ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb) 1243=item ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb)
512 1244
513Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of 1245Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of
514operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex: 1246operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:
515 1247
516
517=over 4 1248=over 4
518 1249
519=item * absolute timer (interval = reschedule_cb = 0) 1250=item * absolute timer (at = time, interval = reschedule_cb = 0)
520 1251
521In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time 1252In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time
522C<at> and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs, 1253C<at> and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs,
523that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the 1254that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the
524system time reaches or surpasses this time. 1255system time reaches or surpasses this time.
525 1256
526=item * non-repeating interval timer (interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0) 1257=item * non-repeating interval timer (at = offset, interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)
527 1258
528In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next 1259In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next
529C<at + N * interval> time (for some integer N) and then repeat, regardless 1260C<at + N * interval> time (for some integer N, which can also be negative)
530of any time jumps. 1261and then repeat, regardless of any time jumps.
531 1262
532This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system 1263This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system
533time: 1264time:
534 1265
535 ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0); 1266 ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0);
536 1267
537This doesn't mean there will always be 3600 seconds in between triggers, 1268This doesn't mean there will always be 3600 seconds in between triggers,
538but only that the the callback will be called when the system time shows a 1269but only that the the callback will be called when the system time shows a
539full hour (UTC), or more correct, when the system time is evenly divisible 1270full hour (UTC), or more correctly, when the system time is evenly divisible
540by 3600. 1271by 3600.
541 1272
542Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that 1273Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that
543ev_periodic will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible 1274C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible
544time where C<time = at (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps. 1275time where C<time = at (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps.
545 1276
1277For numerical stability it is preferable that the C<at> value is near
1278C<ev_now ()> (the current time), but there is no range requirement for
1279this value.
1280
546=item * manual reschedule mode (reschedule_cb = callback) 1281=item * manual reschedule mode (at and interval ignored, reschedule_cb = callback)
547 1282
548In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being 1283In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being
549ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the 1284ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the
550reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the 1285reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the
551current time as second argument. 1286current time as second argument.
552 1287
553NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy the periodic or any other 1288NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher,
554periodic watcher, ever, or make any event loop modificstions>. If you need 1289ever, or make any event loop modifications>. If you need to stop it,
555to stop it, return 1e30 (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards. 1290return C<now + 1e30> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by
1291starting an C<ev_prepare> watcher, which is legal).
556 1292
557Its prototype is c<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, 1293Its prototype is C<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w,
558ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.: 1294ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.:
559 1295
560 static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) 1296 static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
561 { 1297 {
562 return now + 60.; 1298 return now + 60.;
565It must return the next time to trigger, based on the passed time value 1301It must return the next time to trigger, based on the passed time value
566(that is, the lowest time value larger than to the second argument). It 1302(that is, the lowest time value larger than to the second argument). It
567will usually be called just before the callback will be triggered, but 1303will usually be called just before the callback will be triggered, but
568might be called at other times, too. 1304might be called at other times, too.
569 1305
1306NOTE: I<< This callback must always return a time that is later than the
1307passed C<now> value >>. Not even C<now> itself will do, it I<must> be larger.
1308
570This can be used to create very complex timers, such as a timer that 1309This can be used to create very complex timers, such as a timer that
571triggers on each midnight, local time. To do this, you would calculate the 1310triggers on each midnight, local time. To do this, you would calculate the
572next midnight after C<now> and return the timestamp value for this. How you do this 1311next midnight after C<now> and return the timestamp value for this. How
573is, again, up to you (but it is not trivial). 1312you do this is, again, up to you (but it is not trivial, which is the main
1313reason I omitted it as an example).
574 1314
575=back 1315=back
576 1316
577=item ev_periodic_again (loop, ev_periodic *) 1317=item ev_periodic_again (loop, ev_periodic *)
578 1318
579Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful 1319Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful
580when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return 1320when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return
581a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like 1321a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like
582program when the crontabs have changed). 1322program when the crontabs have changed).
583 1323
1324=item ev_tstamp offset [read-write]
1325
1326When repeating, this contains the offset value, otherwise this is the
1327absolute point in time (the C<at> value passed to C<ev_periodic_set>).
1328
1329Can be modified any time, but changes only take effect when the periodic
1330timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
1331
1332=item ev_tstamp interval [read-write]
1333
1334The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only
1335take effect when the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being
1336called.
1337
1338=item ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) [read-write]
1339
1340The current reschedule callback, or C<0>, if this functionality is
1341switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when
1342the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
1343
1344=item ev_tstamp at [read-only]
1345
1346When active, contains the absolute time that the watcher is supposed to
1347trigger next.
1348
584=back 1349=back
585 1350
1351Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the
1352system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have
1353potentially a lot of jittering, but good long-term stability.
1354
1355 static void
1356 clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
1357 {
1358 ... its now a full hour (UTC, or TAI or whatever your clock follows)
1359 }
1360
1361 struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1362 ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0);
1363 ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
1364
1365Example: The same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:
1366
1367 #include <math.h>
1368
1369 static ev_tstamp
1370 my_scheduler_cb (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
1371 {
1372 return fmod (now, 3600.) + 3600.;
1373 }
1374
1375 ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb);
1376
1377Example: Call a callback every hour, starting now:
1378
1379 struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1380 ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb,
1381 fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0);
1382 ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
1383
1384
586=head2 ev_signal - signal me when a signal gets signalled 1385=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!
587 1386
588Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific 1387Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific
589signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev 1388signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev
590will try its best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the 1389will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the
591normal event processing, like any other event. 1390normal event processing, like any other event.
592 1391
593You cna configure as many watchers as you like per signal. Only when the 1392You can configure as many watchers as you like per signal. Only when the
594first watcher gets started will libev actually register a signal watcher 1393first watcher gets started will libev actually register a signal watcher
595with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long 1394with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long
596as you don't register any with libev). Similarly, when the last signal 1395as you don't register any with libev). Similarly, when the last signal
597watcher for a signal is stopped libev will reset the signal handler to 1396watcher for a signal is stopped libev will reset the signal handler to
598SIG_DFL (regardless of what it was set to before). 1397SIG_DFL (regardless of what it was set to before).
599 1398
1399=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1400
600=over 4 1401=over 4
601 1402
602=item ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum) 1403=item ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum)
603 1404
604=item ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum) 1405=item ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)
605 1406
606Configures the watcher to trigger on the given signal number (usually one 1407Configures the watcher to trigger on the given signal number (usually one
607of the C<SIGxxx> constants). 1408of the C<SIGxxx> constants).
608 1409
1410=item int signum [read-only]
1411
1412The signal the watcher watches out for.
1413
609=back 1414=back
610 1415
1416
611=head2 ev_child - wait for pid status changes 1417=head2 C<ev_child> - watch out for process status changes
612 1418
613Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to 1419Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to
614some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies). 1420some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies).
1421
1422=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
615 1423
616=over 4 1424=over 4
617 1425
618=item ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid) 1426=item ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid)
619 1427
620=item ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid) 1428=item ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid)
621 1429
622Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of process C<pid> (or 1430Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of process C<pid> (or
623I<any> process if C<pid> is specified as C<0>). The callback can look 1431I<any> process if C<pid> is specified as C<0>). The callback can look
624at the C<rstatus> member of the C<ev_child> watcher structure to see 1432at the C<rstatus> member of the C<ev_child> watcher structure to see
625the status word (use the macros from C<sys/wait.h>). The C<rpid> member 1433the status word (use the macros from C<sys/wait.h> and see your systems
626contains the pid of the process causing the status change. 1434C<waitpid> documentation). The C<rpid> member contains the pid of the
1435process causing the status change.
1436
1437=item int pid [read-only]
1438
1439The process id this watcher watches out for, or C<0>, meaning any process id.
1440
1441=item int rpid [read-write]
1442
1443The process id that detected a status change.
1444
1445=item int rstatus [read-write]
1446
1447The process exit/trace status caused by C<rpid> (see your systems
1448C<waitpid> and C<sys/wait.h> documentation for details).
627 1449
628=back 1450=back
629 1451
1452Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT and SIGTERM.
1453
1454 static void
1455 sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents)
1456 {
1457 ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);
1458 }
1459
1460 struct ev_signal signal_watcher;
1461 ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT);
1462 ev_signal_start (loop, &sigint_cb);
1463
1464
1465=head2 C<ev_stat> - did the file attributes just change?
1466
1467This watches a filesystem path for attribute changes. That is, it calls
1468C<stat> regularly (or when the OS says it changed) and sees if it changed
1469compared to the last time, invoking the callback if it did.
1470
1471The path does not need to exist: changing from "path exists" to "path does
1472not exist" is a status change like any other. The condition "path does
1473not exist" is signified by the C<st_nlink> field being zero (which is
1474otherwise always forced to be at least one) and all the other fields of
1475the stat buffer having unspecified contents.
1476
1477The path I<should> be absolute and I<must not> end in a slash. If it is
1478relative and your working directory changes, the behaviour is undefined.
1479
1480Since there is no standard to do this, the portable implementation simply
1481calls C<stat (2)> regularly on the path to see if it changed somehow. You
1482can specify a recommended polling interval for this case. If you specify
1483a polling interval of C<0> (highly recommended!) then a I<suitable,
1484unspecified default> value will be used (which you can expect to be around
1485five seconds, although this might change dynamically). Libev will also
1486impose a minimum interval which is currently around C<0.1>, but thats
1487usually overkill.
1488
1489This watcher type is not meant for massive numbers of stat watchers,
1490as even with OS-supported change notifications, this can be
1491resource-intensive.
1492
1493At the time of this writing, only the Linux inotify interface is
1494implemented (implementing kqueue support is left as an exercise for the
1495reader). Inotify will be used to give hints only and should not change the
1496semantics of C<ev_stat> watchers, which means that libev sometimes needs
1497to fall back to regular polling again even with inotify, but changes are
1498usually detected immediately, and if the file exists there will be no
1499polling.
1500
1501=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1502
1503=over 4
1504
1505=item ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)
1506
1507=item ev_stat_set (ev_stat *, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)
1508
1509Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of the given
1510C<path>. The C<interval> is a hint on how quickly a change is expected to
1511be detected and should normally be specified as C<0> to let libev choose
1512a suitable value. The memory pointed to by C<path> must point to the same
1513path for as long as the watcher is active.
1514
1515The callback will be receive C<EV_STAT> when a change was detected,
1516relative to the attributes at the time the watcher was started (or the
1517last change was detected).
1518
1519=item ev_stat_stat (ev_stat *)
1520
1521Updates the stat buffer immediately with new values. If you change the
1522watched path in your callback, you could call this fucntion to avoid
1523detecting this change (while introducing a race condition). Can also be
1524useful simply to find out the new values.
1525
1526=item ev_statdata attr [read-only]
1527
1528The most-recently detected attributes of the file. Although the type is of
1529C<ev_statdata>, this is usually the (or one of the) C<struct stat> types
1530suitable for your system. If the C<st_nlink> member is C<0>, then there
1531was some error while C<stat>ing the file.
1532
1533=item ev_statdata prev [read-only]
1534
1535The previous attributes of the file. The callback gets invoked whenever
1536C<prev> != C<attr>.
1537
1538=item ev_tstamp interval [read-only]
1539
1540The specified interval.
1541
1542=item const char *path [read-only]
1543
1544The filesystem path that is being watched.
1545
1546=back
1547
1548Example: Watch C</etc/passwd> for attribute changes.
1549
1550 static void
1551 passwd_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_stat *w, int revents)
1552 {
1553 /* /etc/passwd changed in some way */
1554 if (w->attr.st_nlink)
1555 {
1556 printf ("passwd current size %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_size);
1557 printf ("passwd current atime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);
1558 printf ("passwd current mtime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);
1559 }
1560 else
1561 /* you shalt not abuse printf for puts */
1562 puts ("wow, /etc/passwd is not there, expect problems. "
1563 "if this is windows, they already arrived\n");
1564 }
1565
1566 ...
1567 ev_stat passwd;
1568
1569 ev_stat_init (&passwd, passwd_cb, "/etc/passwd");
1570 ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);
1571
1572
630=head2 ev_idle - when you've got nothing better to do 1573=head2 C<ev_idle> - when you've got nothing better to do...
631 1574
632Idle watchers trigger events when there are no other I/O or timer (or 1575Idle watchers trigger events when no other events of the same or higher
633periodic) events pending. That is, as long as your process is busy 1576priority are pending (prepare, check and other idle watchers do not
634handling sockets or timeouts it will not be called. But when your process 1577count).
635is idle all idle watchers are being called again and again - until 1578
1579That is, as long as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts
1580(or even signals, imagine) of the same or higher priority it will not be
1581triggered. But when your process is idle (or only lower-priority watchers
1582are pending), the idle watchers are being called once per event loop
636stopped, that is, or your process receives more events. 1583iteration - until stopped, that is, or your process receives more events
1584and becomes busy again with higher priority stuff.
637 1585
638The most noteworthy effect is that as long as any idle watchers are 1586The most noteworthy effect is that as long as any idle watchers are
639active, the process will not block when waiting for new events. 1587active, the process will not block when waiting for new events.
640 1588
641Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful 1589Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful
642effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do 1590effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do
643"pseudo-background processing", or delay processing stuff to after the 1591"pseudo-background processing", or delay processing stuff to after the
644event loop has handled all outstanding events. 1592event loop has handled all outstanding events.
645 1593
1594=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1595
646=over 4 1596=over 4
647 1597
648=item ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback) 1598=item ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback)
649 1599
650Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any 1600Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any
651kind. There is a C<ev_idle_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless, 1601kind. There is a C<ev_idle_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
652believe me. 1602believe me.
653 1603
654=back 1604=back
655 1605
656=head2 prepare and check - your hooks into the event loop 1606Example: Dynamically allocate an C<ev_idle> watcher, start it, and in the
1607callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.
657 1608
1609 static void
1610 idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents)
1611 {
1612 free (w);
1613 // now do something you wanted to do when the program has
1614 // no longer asnything immediate to do.
1615 }
1616
1617 struct ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (struct ev_idle));
1618 ev_idle_init (idle_watcher, idle_cb);
1619 ev_idle_start (loop, idle_cb);
1620
1621
1622=head2 C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> - customise your event loop!
1623
658Prepare and check watchers usually (but not always) are used in 1624Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in tandem:
659tandom. Prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check 1625prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers
660watchers afterwards. 1626afterwards.
661 1627
1628You I<must not> call C<ev_loop> or similar functions that enter
1629the current event loop from either C<ev_prepare> or C<ev_check>
1630watchers. Other loops than the current one are fine, however. The
1631rationale behind this is that you do not need to check for recursion in
1632those watchers, i.e. the sequence will always be C<ev_prepare>, blocking,
1633C<ev_check> so if you have one watcher of each kind they will always be
1634called in pairs bracketing the blocking call.
1635
662Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev. This 1636Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev and
663could be used, for example, to track variable changes, implement your own 1637their use is somewhat advanced. This could be used, for example, to track
664watchers, integrate net-snmp or a coroutine library and lots more. 1638variable changes, implement your own watchers, integrate net-snmp or a
1639coroutine library and lots more. They are also occasionally useful if
1640you cache some data and want to flush it before blocking (for example,
1641in X programs you might want to do an C<XFlush ()> in an C<ev_prepare>
1642watcher).
665 1643
666This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need 1644This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need
667to be watched by the other library, registering ev_io watchers for them 1645to be watched by the other library, registering C<ev_io> watchers for
668and starting an ev_timer watcher for any timeouts (many libraries provide 1646them and starting an C<ev_timer> watcher for any timeouts (many libraries
669just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for any 1647provide just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for
670events that occured (by making your callbacks set soem flags for example) 1648any events that occured (by checking the pending status of all watchers
671and call back into the library. 1649and stopping them) and call back into the library. The I/O and timer
1650callbacks will never actually be called (but must be valid nevertheless,
1651because you never know, you know?).
672 1652
673As another example, the perl Coro module uses these hooks to integrate 1653As another example, the Perl Coro module uses these hooks to integrate
674coroutines into libev programs, by yielding to other active coroutines 1654coroutines into libev programs, by yielding to other active coroutines
675during each prepare and only letting the process block if no coroutines 1655during each prepare and only letting the process block if no coroutines
676are ready to run. 1656are ready to run (it's actually more complicated: it only runs coroutines
1657with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine
1658of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event
1659loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping
1660low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).
1661
1662It is recommended to give C<ev_check> watchers highest (C<EV_MAXPRI>)
1663priority, to ensure that they are being run before any other watchers
1664after the poll. Also, C<ev_check> watchers (and C<ev_prepare> watchers,
1665too) should not activate ("feed") events into libev. While libev fully
1666supports this, they will be called before other C<ev_check> watchers
1667did their job. As C<ev_check> watchers are often used to embed other
1668(non-libev) event loops those other event loops might be in an unusable
1669state until their C<ev_check> watcher ran (always remind yourself to
1670coexist peacefully with others).
1671
1672=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
677 1673
678=over 4 1674=over 4
679 1675
680=item ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback) 1676=item ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)
681 1677
682=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback) 1678=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)
683 1679
684Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher - they have no 1680Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher - they have no
685parameters of any kind. There are C<ev_prepare_set> and C<ev_check_set> 1681parameters of any kind. There are C<ev_prepare_set> and C<ev_check_set>
686macros, but using them is utterly, utterly pointless. 1682macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless.
687 1683
688=back 1684=back
689 1685
1686There are a number of principal ways to embed other event loops or modules
1687into libev. Here are some ideas on how to include libadns into libev
1688(there is a Perl module named C<EV::ADNS> that does this, which you could
1689use for an actually working example. Another Perl module named C<EV::Glib>
1690embeds a Glib main context into libev, and finally, C<Glib::EV> embeds EV
1691into the Glib event loop).
1692
1693Method 1: Add IO watchers and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler,
1694and in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows
1695is pseudo-code only of course. This requires you to either use a low
1696priority for the check watcher or use C<ev_clear_pending> explicitly, as
1697the callbacks for the IO/timeout watchers might not have been called yet.
1698
1699 static ev_io iow [nfd];
1700 static ev_timer tw;
1701
1702 static void
1703 io_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)
1704 {
1705 }
1706
1707 // create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking
1708 static void
1709 adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)
1710 {
1711 int timeout = 3600000;
1712 struct pollfd fds [nfd];
1713 // actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.
1714 adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));
1715
1716 /* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */
1717 ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3);
1718 ev_timer_start (loop, &tw);
1719
1720 // create one ev_io per pollfd
1721 for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
1722 {
1723 ev_io_init (iow + i, io_cb, fds [i].fd,
1724 ((fds [i].events & POLLIN ? EV_READ : 0)
1725 | (fds [i].events & POLLOUT ? EV_WRITE : 0)));
1726
1727 fds [i].revents = 0;
1728 ev_io_start (loop, iow + i);
1729 }
1730 }
1731
1732 // stop all watchers after blocking
1733 static void
1734 adns_check_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_check *w, int revents)
1735 {
1736 ev_timer_stop (loop, &tw);
1737
1738 for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
1739 {
1740 // set the relevant poll flags
1741 // could also call adns_processreadable etc. here
1742 struct pollfd *fd = fds + i;
1743 int revents = ev_clear_pending (iow + i);
1744 if (revents & EV_READ ) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLIN;
1745 if (revents & EV_WRITE) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLOUT;
1746
1747 // now stop the watcher
1748 ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);
1749 }
1750
1751 adns_afterpoll (adns, fds, nfd, timeval_from (ev_now (loop));
1752 }
1753
1754Method 2: This would be just like method 1, but you run C<adns_afterpoll>
1755in the prepare watcher and would dispose of the check watcher.
1756
1757Method 3: If the module to be embedded supports explicit event
1758notification (adns does), you can also make use of the actual watcher
1759callbacks, and only destroy/create the watchers in the prepare watcher.
1760
1761 static void
1762 timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1763 {
1764 adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
1765 update_now (EV_A);
1766
1767 adns_processtimeouts (ads, &tv_now);
1768 }
1769
1770 static void
1771 io_cb (EV_P_ ev_io *w, int revents)
1772 {
1773 adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
1774 update_now (EV_A);
1775
1776 if (revents & EV_READ ) adns_processreadable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
1777 if (revents & EV_WRITE) adns_processwriteable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
1778 }
1779
1780 // do not ever call adns_afterpoll
1781
1782Method 4: Do not use a prepare or check watcher because the module you
1783want to embed is too inflexible to support it. Instead, youc na override
1784their poll function. The drawback with this solution is that the main
1785loop is now no longer controllable by EV. The C<Glib::EV> module does
1786this.
1787
1788 static gint
1789 event_poll_func (GPollFD *fds, guint nfds, gint timeout)
1790 {
1791 int got_events = 0;
1792
1793 for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
1794 // create/start io watcher that sets the relevant bits in fds[n] and increment got_events
1795
1796 if (timeout >= 0)
1797 // create/start timer
1798
1799 // poll
1800 ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
1801
1802 // stop timer again
1803 if (timeout >= 0)
1804 ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ &to);
1805
1806 // stop io watchers again - their callbacks should have set
1807 for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
1808 ev_io_stop (EV_A_ iow [n]);
1809
1810 return got_events;
1811 }
1812
1813
1814=head2 C<ev_embed> - when one backend isn't enough...
1815
1816This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop
1817into another (currently only C<ev_io> events are supported in the embedded
1818loop, other types of watchers might be handled in a delayed or incorrect
1819fashion and must not be used).
1820
1821There are primarily two reasons you would want that: work around bugs and
1822prioritise I/O.
1823
1824As an example for a bug workaround, the kqueue backend might only support
1825sockets on some platform, so it is unusable as generic backend, but you
1826still want to make use of it because you have many sockets and it scales
1827so nicely. In this case, you would create a kqueue-based loop and embed it
1828into your default loop (which might use e.g. poll). Overall operation will
1829be a bit slower because first libev has to poll and then call kevent, but
1830at least you can use both at what they are best.
1831
1832As for prioritising I/O: rarely you have the case where some fds have
1833to be watched and handled very quickly (with low latency), and even
1834priorities and idle watchers might have too much overhead. In this case
1835you would put all the high priority stuff in one loop and all the rest in
1836a second one, and embed the second one in the first.
1837
1838As long as the watcher is active, the callback will be invoked every time
1839there might be events pending in the embedded loop. The callback must then
1840call C<ev_embed_sweep (mainloop, watcher)> to make a single sweep and invoke
1841their callbacks (you could also start an idle watcher to give the embedded
1842loop strictly lower priority for example). You can also set the callback
1843to C<0>, in which case the embed watcher will automatically execute the
1844embedded loop sweep.
1845
1846As long as the watcher is started it will automatically handle events. The
1847callback will be invoked whenever some events have been handled. You can
1848set the callback to C<0> to avoid having to specify one if you are not
1849interested in that.
1850
1851Also, there have not currently been made special provisions for forking:
1852when you fork, you not only have to call C<ev_loop_fork> on both loops,
1853but you will also have to stop and restart any C<ev_embed> watchers
1854yourself.
1855
1856Unfortunately, not all backends are embeddable, only the ones returned by
1857C<ev_embeddable_backends> are, which, unfortunately, does not include any
1858portable one.
1859
1860So when you want to use this feature you will always have to be prepared
1861that you cannot get an embeddable loop. The recommended way to get around
1862this is to have a separate variables for your embeddable loop, try to
1863create it, and if that fails, use the normal loop for everything:
1864
1865 struct ev_loop *loop_hi = ev_default_init (0);
1866 struct ev_loop *loop_lo = 0;
1867 struct ev_embed embed;
1868
1869 // see if there is a chance of getting one that works
1870 // (remember that a flags value of 0 means autodetection)
1871 loop_lo = ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ()
1872 ? ev_loop_new (ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ())
1873 : 0;
1874
1875 // if we got one, then embed it, otherwise default to loop_hi
1876 if (loop_lo)
1877 {
1878 ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_lo);
1879 ev_embed_start (loop_hi, &embed);
1880 }
1881 else
1882 loop_lo = loop_hi;
1883
1884=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1885
1886=over 4
1887
1888=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)
1889
1890=item ev_embed_set (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)
1891
1892Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be
1893embeddable. If the callback is C<0>, then C<ev_embed_sweep> will be
1894invoked automatically, otherwise it is the responsibility of the callback
1895to invoke it (it will continue to be called until the sweep has been done,
1896if you do not want thta, you need to temporarily stop the embed watcher).
1897
1898=item ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)
1899
1900Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works
1901similarly to C<ev_loop (embedded_loop, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK)>, but in the most
1902apropriate way for embedded loops.
1903
1904=item struct ev_loop *other [read-only]
1905
1906The embedded event loop.
1907
1908=back
1909
1910
1911=head2 C<ev_fork> - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork
1912
1913Fork watchers are called when a C<fork ()> was detected (usually because
1914whoever is a good citizen cared to tell libev about it by calling
1915C<ev_default_fork> or C<ev_loop_fork>). The invocation is done before the
1916event loop blocks next and before C<ev_check> watchers are being called,
1917and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling
1918C<ev_default_fork> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork
1919handlers will be invoked, too, of course.
1920
1921=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1922
1923=over 4
1924
1925=item ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)
1926
1927Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any
1928kind. There is a C<ev_fork_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
1929believe me.
1930
1931=back
1932
1933
690=head1 OTHER FUNCTIONS 1934=head1 OTHER FUNCTIONS
691 1935
692There are some other fucntions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now. 1936There are some other functions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now.
693 1937
694=over 4 1938=over 4
695 1939
696=item ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback) 1940=item ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)
697 1941
698This function combines a simple timer and an I/O watcher, calls your 1942This function combines a simple timer and an I/O watcher, calls your
699callback on whichever event happens first and automatically stop both 1943callback on whichever event happens first and automatically stop both
700watchers. This is useful if you want to wait for a single event on an fd 1944watchers. This is useful if you want to wait for a single event on an fd
701or timeout without havign to allocate/configure/start/stop/free one or 1945or timeout without having to allocate/configure/start/stop/free one or
702more watchers yourself. 1946more watchers yourself.
703 1947
704If C<fd> is less than 0, then no I/O watcher will be started and events is 1948If C<fd> is less than 0, then no I/O watcher will be started and events
705ignored. Otherwise, an ev_io watcher for the given C<fd> and C<events> set 1949is being ignored. Otherwise, an C<ev_io> watcher for the given C<fd> and
706will be craeted and started. 1950C<events> set will be craeted and started.
707 1951
708If C<timeout> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be 1952If C<timeout> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be
709started. Otherwise an ev_timer watcher with after = C<timeout> (and repeat 1953started. Otherwise an C<ev_timer> watcher with after = C<timeout> (and
710= 0) will be started. 1954repeat = 0) will be started. While C<0> is a valid timeout, it is of
1955dubious value.
711 1956
712The callback has the type C<void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)> and 1957The callback has the type C<void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)> and gets
713gets passed an events set (normally a combination of EV_ERROR, EV_READ, 1958passed an C<revents> set like normal event callbacks (a combination of
714EV_WRITE or EV_TIMEOUT) and the C<arg> value passed to C<ev_once>: 1959C<EV_ERROR>, C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or C<EV_TIMEOUT>) and the C<arg>
1960value passed to C<ev_once>:
715 1961
716 static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg) 1962 static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg)
717 { 1963 {
718 if (revents & EV_TIMEOUT) 1964 if (revents & EV_TIMEOUT)
719 /* doh, nothing entered */ 1965 /* doh, nothing entered */;
720 else if (revents & EV_READ) 1966 else if (revents & EV_READ)
721 /* stdin might have data for us, joy! */ 1967 /* stdin might have data for us, joy! */;
722 } 1968 }
723 1969
724 ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READm 10., stdin_ready, 0); 1970 ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);
725 1971
726=item ev_feed_event (loop, watcher, int events) 1972=item ev_feed_event (ev_loop *, watcher *, int revents)
727 1973
728Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event 1974Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event
729has happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an 1975had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an
730initialised but not necessarily active event watcher). 1976initialised but not necessarily started event watcher).
731 1977
732=item ev_feed_fd_event (loop, int fd, int revents) 1978=item ev_feed_fd_event (ev_loop *, int fd, int revents)
733 1979
734Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected it. 1980Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected
1981the given events it.
735 1982
736=item ev_feed_signal_event (loop, int signum) 1983=item ev_feed_signal_event (ev_loop *loop, int signum)
737 1984
738Feed an event as if the given signal occured (loop must be the default loop!). 1985Feed an event as if the given signal occured (C<loop> must be the default
1986loop!).
739 1987
740=back 1988=back
741 1989
1990
1991=head1 LIBEVENT EMULATION
1992
1993Libev offers a compatibility emulation layer for libevent. It cannot
1994emulate the internals of libevent, so here are some usage hints:
1995
1996=over 4
1997
1998=item * Use it by including <event.h>, as usual.
1999
2000=item * The following members are fully supported: ev_base, ev_callback,
2001ev_arg, ev_fd, ev_res, ev_events.
2002
2003=item * Avoid using ev_flags and the EVLIST_*-macros, while it is
2004maintained by libev, it does not work exactly the same way as in libevent (consider
2005it a private API).
2006
2007=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities
2008will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there
2009is an ev_pri field.
2010
2011=item * Other members are not supported.
2012
2013=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need
2014to use the libev header file and library.
2015
2016=back
2017
2018=head1 C++ SUPPORT
2019
2020Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for C++ that mainly allow
2021you to use some convinience methods to start/stop watchers and also change
2022the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.
2023
2024To use it,
2025
2026 #include <ev++.h>
2027
2028This automatically includes F<ev.h> and puts all of its definitions (many
2029of them macros) into the global namespace. All C++ specific things are
2030put into the C<ev> namespace. It should support all the same embedding
2031options as F<ev.h>, most notably C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>.
2032
2033Care has been taken to keep the overhead low. The only data member the C++
2034classes add (compared to plain C-style watchers) is the event loop pointer
2035that the watcher is associated with (or no additional members at all if
2036you disable C<EV_MULTIPLICITY> when embedding libev).
2037
2038Currently, functions, and static and non-static member functions can be
2039used as callbacks. Other types should be easy to add as long as they only
2040need one additional pointer for context. If you need support for other
2041types of functors please contact the author (preferably after implementing
2042it).
2043
2044Here is a list of things available in the C<ev> namespace:
2045
2046=over 4
2047
2048=item C<ev::READ>, C<ev::WRITE> etc.
2049
2050These are just enum values with the same values as the C<EV_READ> etc.
2051macros from F<ev.h>.
2052
2053=item C<ev::tstamp>, C<ev::now>
2054
2055Aliases to the same types/functions as with the C<ev_> prefix.
2056
2057=item C<ev::io>, C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic>, C<ev::idle>, C<ev::sig> etc.
2058
2059For each C<ev_TYPE> watcher in F<ev.h> there is a corresponding class of
2060the same name in the C<ev> namespace, with the exception of C<ev_signal>
2061which is called C<ev::sig> to avoid clashes with the C<signal> macro
2062defines by many implementations.
2063
2064All of those classes have these methods:
2065
2066=over 4
2067
2068=item ev::TYPE::TYPE ()
2069
2070=item ev::TYPE::TYPE (struct ev_loop *)
2071
2072=item ev::TYPE::~TYPE
2073
2074The constructor (optionally) takes an event loop to associate the watcher
2075with. If it is omitted, it will use C<EV_DEFAULT>.
2076
2077The constructor calls C<ev_init> for you, which means you have to call the
2078C<set> method before starting it.
2079
2080It will not set a callback, however: You have to call the templated C<set>
2081method to set a callback before you can start the watcher.
2082
2083(The reason why you have to use a method is a limitation in C++ which does
2084not allow explicit template arguments for constructors).
2085
2086The destructor automatically stops the watcher if it is active.
2087
2088=item w->set<class, &class::method> (object *)
2089
2090This method sets the callback method to call. The method has to have a
2091signature of C<void (*)(ev_TYPE &, int)>, it receives the watcher as
2092first argument and the C<revents> as second. The object must be given as
2093parameter and is stored in the C<data> member of the watcher.
2094
2095This method synthesizes efficient thunking code to call your method from
2096the C callback that libev requires. If your compiler can inline your
2097callback (i.e. it is visible to it at the place of the C<set> call and
2098your compiler is good :), then the method will be fully inlined into the
2099thunking function, making it as fast as a direct C callback.
2100
2101Example: simple class declaration and watcher initialisation
2102
2103 struct myclass
2104 {
2105 void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
2106 }
2107
2108 myclass obj;
2109 ev::io iow;
2110 iow.set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb> (&obj);
2111
2112=item w->set<function> (void *data = 0)
2113
2114Also sets a callback, but uses a static method or plain function as
2115callback. The optional C<data> argument will be stored in the watcher's
2116C<data> member and is free for you to use.
2117
2118The prototype of the C<function> must be C<void (*)(ev::TYPE &w, int)>.
2119
2120See the method-C<set> above for more details.
2121
2122Example:
2123
2124 static void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
2125 iow.set <io_cb> ();
2126
2127=item w->set (struct ev_loop *)
2128
2129Associates a different C<struct ev_loop> with this watcher. You can only
2130do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).
2131
2132=item w->set ([args])
2133
2134Basically the same as C<ev_TYPE_set>, with the same args. Must be
2135called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets
2136automatically stopped and restarted when reconfiguring it with this
2137method.
2138
2139=item w->start ()
2140
2141Starts the watcher. Note that there is no C<loop> argument, as the
2142constructor already stores the event loop.
2143
2144=item w->stop ()
2145
2146Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no C<loop> argument.
2147
2148=item w->again () (C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic> only)
2149
2150For C<ev::timer> and C<ev::periodic>, this invokes the corresponding
2151C<ev_TYPE_again> function.
2152
2153=item w->sweep () (C<ev::embed> only)
2154
2155Invokes C<ev_embed_sweep>.
2156
2157=item w->update () (C<ev::stat> only)
2158
2159Invokes C<ev_stat_stat>.
2160
2161=back
2162
2163=back
2164
2165Example: Define a class with an IO and idle watcher, start one of them in
2166the constructor.
2167
2168 class myclass
2169 {
2170 ev_io io; void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents);
2171 ev_idle idle void idle_cb (ev::idle &w, int revents);
2172
2173 myclass ();
2174 }
2175
2176 myclass::myclass (int fd)
2177 {
2178 io .set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb > (this);
2179 idle.set <myclass, &myclass::idle_cb> (this);
2180
2181 io.start (fd, ev::READ);
2182 }
2183
2184
2185=head1 MACRO MAGIC
2186
2187Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundamantal
2188of which is C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>. This option determines whether (most)
2189functions and callbacks have an initial C<struct ev_loop *> argument.
2190
2191To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the
2192following macros are defined:
2193
2194=over 4
2195
2196=item C<EV_A>, C<EV_A_>
2197
2198This provides the loop I<argument> for functions, if one is required ("ev
2199loop argument"). The C<EV_A> form is used when this is the sole argument,
2200C<EV_A_> is used when other arguments are following. Example:
2201
2202 ev_unref (EV_A);
2203 ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);
2204 ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
2205
2206It assumes the variable C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *> is in scope,
2207which is often provided by the following macro.
2208
2209=item C<EV_P>, C<EV_P_>
2210
2211This provides the loop I<parameter> for functions, if one is required ("ev
2212loop parameter"). The C<EV_P> form is used when this is the sole parameter,
2213C<EV_P_> is used when other parameters are following. Example:
2214
2215 // this is how ev_unref is being declared
2216 static void ev_unref (EV_P);
2217
2218 // this is how you can declare your typical callback
2219 static void cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
2220
2221It declares a parameter C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *>, quite
2222suitable for use with C<EV_A>.
2223
2224=item C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_>
2225
2226Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default
2227loop, if multiple loops are supported ("ev loop default").
2228
2229=back
2230
2231Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, utilising the above
2232macros so it will work regardless of whether multiple loops are supported
2233or not.
2234
2235 static void
2236 check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
2237 {
2238 ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w);
2239 }
2240
2241 ev_check check;
2242 ev_check_init (&check, check_cb);
2243 ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &check);
2244 ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);
2245
2246=head1 EMBEDDING
2247
2248Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host
2249applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra
2250Game Server, the EV perl module, the GNU Virtual Private Ethernet (gvpe)
2251and rxvt-unicode.
2252
2253The goal is to enable you to just copy the necessary files into your
2254source directory without having to change even a single line in them, so
2255you can easily upgrade by simply copying (or having a checked-out copy of
2256libev somewhere in your source tree).
2257
2258=head2 FILESETS
2259
2260Depending on what features you need you need to include one or more sets of files
2261in your app.
2262
2263=head3 CORE EVENT LOOP
2264
2265To include only the libev core (all the C<ev_*> functions), with manual
2266configuration (no autoconf):
2267
2268 #define EV_STANDALONE 1
2269 #include "ev.c"
2270
2271This will automatically include F<ev.h>, too, and should be done in a
2272single C source file only to provide the function implementations. To use
2273it, do the same for F<ev.h> in all files wishing to use this API (best
2274done by writing a wrapper around F<ev.h> that you can include instead and
2275where you can put other configuration options):
2276
2277 #define EV_STANDALONE 1
2278 #include "ev.h"
2279
2280Both header files and implementation files can be compiled with a C++
2281compiler (at least, thats a stated goal, and breakage will be treated
2282as a bug).
2283
2284You need the following files in your source tree, or in a directory
2285in your include path (e.g. in libev/ when using -Ilibev):
2286
2287 ev.h
2288 ev.c
2289 ev_vars.h
2290 ev_wrap.h
2291
2292 ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only
2293
2294 ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is enabled by default)
2295 ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2296 ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2297 ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2298 ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2299
2300F<ev.c> includes the backend files directly when enabled, so you only need
2301to compile this single file.
2302
2303=head3 LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API
2304
2305To include the libevent compatibility API, also include:
2306
2307 #include "event.c"
2308
2309in the file including F<ev.c>, and:
2310
2311 #include "event.h"
2312
2313in the files that want to use the libevent API. This also includes F<ev.h>.
2314
2315You need the following additional files for this:
2316
2317 event.h
2318 event.c
2319
2320=head3 AUTOCONF SUPPORT
2321
2322Instead of using C<EV_STANDALONE=1> and providing your config in
2323whatever way you want, you can also C<m4_include([libev.m4])> in your
2324F<configure.ac> and leave C<EV_STANDALONE> undefined. F<ev.c> will then
2325include F<config.h> and configure itself accordingly.
2326
2327For this of course you need the m4 file:
2328
2329 libev.m4
2330
2331=head2 PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS
2332
2333Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to define
2334before including any of its files. The default is not to build for multiplicity
2335and only include the select backend.
2336
2337=over 4
2338
2339=item EV_STANDALONE
2340
2341Must always be C<1> if you do not use autoconf configuration, which
2342keeps libev from including F<config.h>, and it also defines dummy
2343implementations for some libevent functions (such as logging, which is not
2344supported). It will also not define any of the structs usually found in
2345F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.
2346
2347=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC
2348
2349If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
2350monotonic clock option at both compiletime and runtime. Otherwise no use
2351of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this, you
2352usually have to link against librt or something similar. Enabling it when
2353the functionality isn't available is safe, though, although you have
2354to make sure you link against any libraries where the C<clock_gettime>
2355function is hiding in (often F<-lrt>).
2356
2357=item EV_USE_REALTIME
2358
2359If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
2360realtime clock option at compiletime (and assume its availability at
2361runtime if successful). Otherwise no use of the realtime clock option will
2362be attempted. This effectively replaces C<gettimeofday> by C<clock_get
2363(CLOCK_REALTIME, ...)> and will not normally affect correctness. See the
2364note about libraries in the description of C<EV_USE_MONOTONIC>, though.
2365
2366=item EV_USE_NANOSLEEP
2367
2368If defined to be C<1>, libev will assume that C<nanosleep ()> is available
2369and will use it for delays. Otherwise it will use C<select ()>.
2370
2371=item EV_USE_SELECT
2372
2373If undefined or defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the
2374C<select>(2) backend. No attempt at autodetection will be done: if no
2375other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend
2376will not be compiled in.
2377
2378=item EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET
2379
2380If defined to C<1>, then the select backend will use the system C<fd_set>
2381structure. This is useful if libev doesn't compile due to a missing
2382C<NFDBITS> or C<fd_mask> definition or it misguesses the bitset layout on
2383exotic systems. This usually limits the range of file descriptors to some
2384low limit such as 1024 or might have other limitations (winsocket only
2385allows 64 sockets). The C<FD_SETSIZE> macro, set before compilation, might
2386influence the size of the C<fd_set> used.
2387
2388=item EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET
2389
2390When defined to C<1>, the select backend will assume that
2391select/socket/connect etc. don't understand file descriptors but
2392wants osf handles on win32 (this is the case when the select to
2393be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call
2394C<_get_osfhandle> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise,
2395it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even
2396on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms.
2397
2398=item EV_USE_POLL
2399
2400If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2)
2401backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It
2402takes precedence over select.
2403
2404=item EV_USE_EPOLL
2405
2406If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux
2407C<epoll>(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2408otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the
2409preferred backend for GNU/Linux systems.
2410
2411=item EV_USE_KQUEUE
2412
2413If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the BSD style
2414C<kqueue>(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime,
2415otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2416backend for BSD and BSD-like systems, although on most BSDs kqueue only
2417supports some types of fds correctly (the only platform we found that
2418supports ptys for example was NetBSD), so kqueue might be compiled in, but
2419not be used unless explicitly requested. The best way to use it is to find
2420out whether kqueue supports your type of fd properly and use an embedded
2421kqueue loop.
2422
2423=item EV_USE_PORT
2424
2425If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Solaris
242610 port style backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2427otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2428backend for Solaris 10 systems.
2429
2430=item EV_USE_DEVPOLL
2431
2432reserved for future expansion, works like the USE symbols above.
2433
2434=item EV_USE_INOTIFY
2435
2436If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify
2437interface to speed up C<ev_stat> watchers. Its actual availability will
2438be detected at runtime.
2439
2440=item EV_H
2441
2442The name of the F<ev.h> header file used to include it. The default if
2443undefined is C<< <ev.h> >> in F<event.h> and C<"ev.h"> in F<ev.c>. This
2444can be used to virtually rename the F<ev.h> header file in case of conflicts.
2445
2446=item EV_CONFIG_H
2447
2448If C<EV_STANDALONE> isn't C<1>, this variable can be used to override
2449F<ev.c>'s idea of where to find the F<config.h> file, similarly to
2450C<EV_H>, above.
2451
2452=item EV_EVENT_H
2453
2454Similarly to C<EV_H>, this macro can be used to override F<event.c>'s idea
2455of how the F<event.h> header can be found.
2456
2457=item EV_PROTOTYPES
2458
2459If defined to be C<0>, then F<ev.h> will not define any function
2460prototypes, but still define all the structs and other symbols. This is
2461occasionally useful if you want to provide your own wrapper functions
2462around libev functions.
2463
2464=item EV_MULTIPLICITY
2465
2466If undefined or defined to C<1>, then all event-loop-specific functions
2467will have the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument, and you can create
2468additional independent event loops. Otherwise there will be no support
2469for multiple event loops and there is no first event loop pointer
2470argument. Instead, all functions act on the single default loop.
2471
2472=item EV_MINPRI
2473
2474=item EV_MAXPRI
2475
2476The range of allowed priorities. C<EV_MINPRI> must be smaller or equal to
2477C<EV_MAXPRI>, but otherwise there are no non-obvious limitations. You can
2478provide for more priorities by overriding those symbols (usually defined
2479to be C<-2> and C<2>, respectively).
2480
2481When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to linearly search
2482all the priorities, so having many of them (hundreds) uses a lot of space
2483and time, so using the defaults of five priorities (-2 .. +2) is usually
2484fine.
2485
2486If your embedding app does not need any priorities, defining these both to
2487C<0> will save some memory and cpu.
2488
2489=item EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE
2490
2491If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then periodic timers are supported. If
2492defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
2493code.
2494
2495=item EV_IDLE_ENABLE
2496
2497If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then idle watchers are supported. If
2498defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
2499code.
2500
2501=item EV_EMBED_ENABLE
2502
2503If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then embed watchers are supported. If
2504defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2505
2506=item EV_STAT_ENABLE
2507
2508If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then stat watchers are supported. If
2509defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2510
2511=item EV_FORK_ENABLE
2512
2513If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then fork watchers are supported. If
2514defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2515
2516=item EV_MINIMAL
2517
2518If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some
2519speed, define this symbol to C<1>. Currently only used for gcc to override
2520some inlining decisions, saves roughly 30% codesize of amd64.
2521
2522=item EV_PID_HASHSIZE
2523
2524C<ev_child> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2525pid. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>), usually more
2526than enough. If you need to manage thousands of children you might want to
2527increase this value (I<must> be a power of two).
2528
2529=item EV_INOTIFY_HASHSIZE
2530
2531C<ev_stat> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2532inotify watch id. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>),
2533usually more than enough. If you need to manage thousands of C<ev_stat>
2534watchers you might want to increase this value (I<must> be a power of
2535two).
2536
2537=item EV_COMMON
2538
2539By default, all watchers have a C<void *data> member. By redefining
2540this macro to a something else you can include more and other types of
2541members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,
2542though, and it must be identical each time.
2543
2544For example, the perl EV module uses something like this:
2545
2546 #define EV_COMMON \
2547 SV *self; /* contains this struct */ \
2548 SV *cb_sv, *fh /* note no trailing ";" */
2549
2550=item EV_CB_DECLARE (type)
2551
2552=item EV_CB_INVOKE (watcher, revents)
2553
2554=item ev_set_cb (ev, cb)
2555
2556Can be used to change the callback member declaration in each watcher,
2557and the way callbacks are invoked and set. Must expand to a struct member
2558definition and a statement, respectively. See the F<ev.h> header file for
2559their default definitions. One possible use for overriding these is to
2560avoid the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument in all cases, or to use
2561method calls instead of plain function calls in C++.
2562
2563=head2 EXPORTED API SYMBOLS
2564
2565If you need to re-export the API (e.g. via a dll) and you need a list of
2566exported symbols, you can use the provided F<Symbol.*> files which list
2567all public symbols, one per line:
2568
2569 Symbols.ev for libev proper
2570 Symbols.event for the libevent emulation
2571
2572This can also be used to rename all public symbols to avoid clashes with
2573multiple versions of libev linked together (which is obviously bad in
2574itself, but sometimes it is inconvinient to avoid this).
2575
2576A sed command like this will create wrapper C<#define>'s that you need to
2577include before including F<ev.h>:
2578
2579 <Symbols.ev sed -e "s/.*/#define & myprefix_&/" >wrap.h
2580
2581This would create a file F<wrap.h> which essentially looks like this:
2582
2583 #define ev_backend myprefix_ev_backend
2584 #define ev_check_start myprefix_ev_check_start
2585 #define ev_check_stop myprefix_ev_check_stop
2586 ...
2587
2588=head2 EXAMPLES
2589
2590For a real-world example of a program the includes libev
2591verbatim, you can have a look at the EV perl module
2592(L<http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/EV.html>). It has the libev files in
2593the F<libev/> subdirectory and includes them in the F<EV/EVAPI.h> (public
2594interface) and F<EV.xs> (implementation) files. Only the F<EV.xs> file
2595will be compiled. It is pretty complex because it provides its own header
2596file.
2597
2598The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a F<ev_cpp.h> header file
2599that everybody includes and which overrides some configure choices:
2600
2601 #define EV_MINIMAL 1
2602 #define EV_USE_POLL 0
2603 #define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0
2604 #define EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE 0
2605 #define EV_STAT_ENABLE 0
2606 #define EV_FORK_ENABLE 0
2607 #define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h>
2608 #define EV_MINPRI 0
2609 #define EV_MAXPRI 0
2610
2611 #include "ev++.h"
2612
2613And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:
2614
2615 #include "ev_cpp.h"
2616 #include "ev.c"
2617
2618
2619=head1 COMPLEXITIES
2620
2621In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside
2622libev will be explained. For complexity discussions about backends see the
2623documentation for C<ev_default_init>.
2624
2625All of the following are about amortised time: If an array needs to be
2626extended, libev needs to realloc and move the whole array, but this
2627happens asymptotically never with higher number of elements, so O(1) might
2628mean it might do a lengthy realloc operation in rare cases, but on average
2629it is much faster and asymptotically approaches constant time.
2630
2631=over 4
2632
2633=item Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)
2634
2635This means that, when you have a watcher that triggers in one hour and
2636there are 100 watchers that would trigger before that then inserting will
2637have to skip roughly seven (C<ld 100>) of these watchers.
2638
2639=item Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat or calling again): O(log skipped_other_timers)
2640
2641That means that changing a timer costs less than removing/adding them
2642as only the relative motion in the event queue has to be paid for.
2643
2644=item Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child watchers: O(1)
2645
2646These just add the watcher into an array or at the head of a list.
2647
2648=item Stopping check/prepare/idle watchers: O(1)
2649
2650=item Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % EV_PID_HASHSIZE))
2651
2652These watchers are stored in lists then need to be walked to find the
2653correct watcher to remove. The lists are usually short (you don't usually
2654have many watchers waiting for the same fd or signal).
2655
2656=item Finding the next timer in each loop iteration: O(1)
2657
2658By virtue of using a binary heap, the next timer is always found at the
2659beginning of the storage array.
2660
2661=item Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)
2662
2663A change means an I/O watcher gets started or stopped, which requires
2664libev to recalculate its status (and possibly tell the kernel, depending
2665on backend and wether C<ev_io_set> was used).
2666
2667=item Activating one watcher (putting it into the pending state): O(1)
2668
2669=item Priority handling: O(number_of_priorities)
2670
2671Priorities are implemented by allocating some space for each
2672priority. When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to
2673linearly search all the priorities, but starting/stopping and activating
2674watchers becomes O(1) w.r.t. prioritiy handling.
2675
2676=back
2677
2678
742=head1 AUTHOR 2679=head1 AUTHOR
743 2680
744Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>. 2681Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>.
745 2682

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